The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has issued fresh updates ahead of the planned grassroots elections scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

In a statement on Friday, November 22, 2024, the ODM chairperson for the National Elections Coordinating Committee Emily Awita introduced a raft of changes set to take effect from Monday, November 25, 2024.

“The scheduled meeting of members at polling units, initially set for Monday, November 25, 2024, for the election of presiding officers, is hereby cancelled,” Awita said, “The application is age and gender sensitive. Aspirants above 35 years of age and male candidates will not be eligible to contest for positions in the youth and women categories respectively.”

ODM also indicated that the members of the party intending to contest for the 30 positions in the grassroots elections must register online or through the USSD code provided by the party.

Registration deadline

“Candidate registration will close at midnight on Tuesday, November 26, 2024,” ODM said, urging members to read and acquaint themselves with the election’s rules and procedures.

In a statement issued on Monday, November 18, 2024, updated the members that its National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) had conducted training and officially appointed the County Elections Committees (CECs) for all 47 counties.

The party also noted that only the polling unit elections will be conducted on November 27, in all gazetted polling centres across the country, with the party members expected to elect a total of 30 officials.

“Following the notice issued on November 4, 2024, regarding the above subject, the NECC wishes to announce the following. That in collaboration with the Party’s Legal Committee, the NECC conducted training and officially appointed the County Elections Committees (CECs) for all the forty- seven (47) counties,” ODM stated.

“That only the polling unit elections will be conducted on the 27 November 2024 in all gazetted polling centres across the country.”

Elective positions

For the mainstream elections, ODM says the positions to be contested will be those of the chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, organising secretary, treasurer, women leader, youth leader and three committee members.

Also, in the women and youth league, the positions that will be up for grabs will be those of the chairperson, secretary, organising secretary and their deputies, treasurer and three committee members.

ODM also stated that the elections would be carried out from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and that the county election coordinators would be expected to oversee the process.

The party urged the election coordinators to ensure a balance in the representation by incorporating people with disabilities.

“Persons with disabilities and minorities be mainstreamed in the three (3) categories,” she said.